Olive Oil And Sun

[pbr]

I had a custom sheath made with tooling the background was dyed and the rest was left natural, I oiled it with olive oil and put it in the sun, and it turned a redish brown color which I am not wild about. What can I do at this point? Is there a way to bleach out or how would I now prep it to try and dye it?

Edited April 26, 2015 by pbr

[TwinOaks]

The sun tanning method is essentially permanent. You *might* be able to pull some of it out with really really really fine sand paper - like 2000 grit and a very light touch. To prep for dyeing, use some denatured alcohol and lightly wipe off the areas you want to dye. It will really depend on how much olive oil you applied, and what kind of finish the leather was sealed with. If it's unsealed, and not oiled too heavily, then dye could go straight on with no other prep. If it is sealed, the denatured alcohol should pull the finish off. If it's over oiled, you'll need to bury it in something like clay powder (un-scented cat litter) to pull the oil out of it.

[pbr]

Thanks when I got it was very stiff so I really soaked it inside and out with the olive oil, how long should I leave it in the cat litter? With the current orange/brown color could I dye it more a tan color/

[King's X]

Unfortunately, oil and sun can create a sun tan or burn depending on the length of the exposure.

[pbr]

Can I dye it and change the color with the sunburn? I would like to take it more to a light brown

[ChuckBurrows]

Doubt if it would go lighter - the "problem" is the sun oxidized the oil which gave it that reddish color (a color often wanted BTW) and that is permanent.

[ChuckBurrows]

Never could understand why folks want to soften a sheath or holster when they are purpose designed to be stiff for various reasons including safety. A good stiff sheath body goes along way to preventing accidents like going through the side or edge when re-sheathing the blade, which in over 50 years making sheaths I've seen beaucoup times with "soft" sheaths. Most of my personal sheaths are of a frontier style and covered with rawhide to both stiffen and offer extra protection.

[TwinOaks]

You should look at burying the sheath in the cat litter/clay dust for at least 24 hrs. You're going for the removal of all excess oil, so if it's REALLY wet with oil, it might even need longer

[Thornton]

Baking soda will draw the oil out also.